One of the hardest things about going epic stems from the limited number of classes that actually have an epic progression and those other classes for which the epic progression sucks. For example, the Mystic Theurge.

  Anyone familiar with the Mystic Theurge knows that it’s one of the very few classes that gets a double spell progression in an arcane and divine class. This has led to accusations that it is unbalanced and overpowered. While I don’t agree with those thoughts, I have no need to refute them in dealing with the epic progression and explaining why IT sucks. The epic progression for Mystic Theurge, as presented by Wizards of the Coast, gives alternating spell progression in arcane and divine spell casting and a bonus feat every 6 levels. Now, let’s just start with that bonus feat. Gaining a bonus feat every SIX levels is the worst possible feat progression for an epic class, bar none. For those of you unfamiliar with epic play, all epic classes get an epic bonus feat progression. For nearly every other class this progression ends up being every third or fourth level with some exceptions having a bonus feat only every five levels. I’d like to know what is so wonderful that the Epic Mystic Theurge gets that justifies the worst possible feat progression.

  Secondly, I said earlier that they get alternating levels in arcane and divine spellcasting. For clarity, that means that at odd levels they gain one level of arcane spellcasting and at even levels they gain one level of divine. And that’s it. They get no abilities. Nothing, in short, to justify that lame feat progression. A character following the Mystic Theurge epic progression slowly falls behind in spellcasting ability in both of their fields of spellcasting while getting the same pitiful hitpoints and low skills points previously justified by a double spell progression. If any of you are thinking that this is just the same as a wizard, allow me to disabuse you of that notion. A wizard gets a bonus feat every three levels (exactly double the Epic Mystic Theurge) and a familiar (which has its OWN epic progression) while getting just as many spells as the Mystic Theurge without splitting that spell progression between two spell lists. While we’re at it, the cleric gets a bonus feat every three levels, continues to gain uses and power with turn undead and possibly gains domain powers, if the cleric’s domain powers are affected by level. In other words, the Mystic Theurge gets the ax in a major way. From a strictly rules perspective, no one would EVER play a Mystic Theurge. Why?  Because you can get alternating spell progressions just by alternating wizard and cleric. On top of that, you’d get all the little perks and special abilities associated with both of those classes and you’d eventually get the bonus feats once those classes hit epic (which admittedly wouldn’t happen until 50th roughly). But in the meantime, you’d get the normal bonus feats from wizards as well as the perks of being a wizard and a cleric. I think I’d trade those for one measly epic feat every 6 levels, although I suppose it’s just possible that someone could disagree with that assessment. Finally, even if you didn’t progress in both class, why not just pick one class, say wizard, and continue to progress to epic in about 10-15 levels?  Soon enough, you’d be getting twice the bonus feats, while having a host of other wizard perks, and you still get to cast all those cleric spells. In any case, the point is that the Epic Mystic Theurge hasn’t got a reason to exist so far as players are concerned.

  Now let’s look at a prestige class that doesn’t exist, that of the Acolyte of the Skin from the Complete Arcane Wait, isn’t there an epic progression for that class in the epic insights compilation?  Well certainly!  But it’s the wrong one. That epic progression builds off the 3.0 model presented in Tome and Blood. The prestige class reworked and presented in complete arcane won’t follow it seamlessly and you’ll get really confused trying. What’s the solution?  The only thing to do is build a new progression. Check out the epic prestige classes file in D&D Original Work to see examples of several prestige classes I’ve pushed into the epic realm, as well as my adjustments to the Mystic Theurge. You may have to scroll past a number of the original prestige classes to find all the ones I’ve added.

  So, how do you go about building a brand new progression?  Well, the DM’s guide gives some advice, but in a nutshell it’s this. Follow the patterns. Most classes have patterns which continue over the course of the class’s life. Most times, those patterns can simply be continued when it comes to the epic progression. Anything without a pattern probably shouldn’t be continued. Most importantly, you can only make epic progressions of 10 level classes and base classes. Five level prestige classes don’t represent enough of an investment by the character to justify an epic progression

  Now, I have noticed some exceptions to the basic rule of continuing patterns: anything that boosts spell DCs, any double spellcasting progressions (like the Mystic Theurge), anything that boosts Caster level beyond +1 per level, and anything that boosts ability scores.

  A notable exception to those exceptions is the Red Wizard of Thay. Actually, several of the campaign specific prestige classes have appeared unbalanced to me at a glance, but since I do not use those campaigns, I haven’t worried about them to any great extent.

  So, if you look at my classes, most of them do not continue those trends The exception is the Acolyte of Skin, but that wasn’t my idea I simply modified the class and kept as close to the epic progression already presented. I think halving the spell progression of this class tends to make up for it.

  So, there you have it. All I can tell you about making prestige classes. If any readership shows an interest, I may put out an example. Let me know you’re listening by shooting me an email.